Illuminated sign or ornamental device



Jan. 5, 1932.

H, COLE ILLUMINATEQ SIGN OR ORNAMENTAL DEVICE :s Sheets-Shee t 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1929 flwweylcwernz C011 Jan. 5, 1982.

H. L. COLE ILLUMINATED SIGN OR ORNAMENTAL DEVICE Filed Feb. 25, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet Jan. 5, 1932. H. L. COLE 1,839,534

ILLUMINATED SIGN OR ORNAMENTAL DEVICE Filed Feb. 25, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 flaruqyl aver-7w Cote' 20 MM @mfl Patented Jan. 5, 1932 were!) STATES PATENT OFFICE HARVEY L. COLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MES1\TE ASSIGN- MEN TS, TO GLEAMTUBE, INC., A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS ILLUMINATED SIG-N OR ORNAMENTAL DEVICE Application filed February 25, 1929. Serial No. 342,330.

This invention relates to electric signs, or electrically illuminated ornamental devices. For example, a wellknown electric sign, or electrically illuminated ornamental device, is

one consisting of a'glass tube with neon gas therein, or some similar fluid, with terminals or electrodes at the opposite ends of theltube. When properly connected in circuit, the gas becomes luminous, with the well known result.

Generally stated, therefore, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction which Will obviate the necessity of using neon gas, or any other fluid through which the electric current is passed, but which will, when illuminated, produce substantially the same effect, thus simulating in appearance a neon gas electric sign, or ornamental device. 7

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the general effi' ciency and desirability of an illuminated sign or ornamental device of this particular character.

To these and other useful ends, the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a cross section of an illuminated sign, involving the principles of the invention, on line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on line 3-3 in Fig. 2; v i

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showlng a difierent form of the invention; Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on line 55 in Fig. 4:;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a different form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section on H line 77 in Fig.6;- 4;)

Fig. 8 is a front elevation, showing a different form of the invention; I I

Fig. 9 is a detailhorizontal section on line 9-9inFig.8; 3

Figs. 10 and 11 are similar views, showing different forms of the invention;

Fig. 16 is a horizontal section on line 1616 in F 1g. 15;

F 17 is a view similar to Fig. 13,showing'a difierent form of the invention; and

Fig. 18 is a horizontal section on line 18-18 in Fig. 17. 7 i As thus illustrated, referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the invention comprises a front panel 1 of opaque material, which can'be black or any other shade on its outer surface, to provide a suitable background, and which can be a front wall of a box 2, or other suitable enclosure The glasstubes 3, 4t and 5 are set into this panel, in the manner shown, these tubes being shaped to form letters, or anything else. These tubes have open end portions 6, and assuming, for example, that these tubes are of pure white glass, each tube can be filled with a red, blue, green, yellow, or other colored water or liquid, or even with pure white liquid. By having the letters separate, each letter can have a different color or shade. It will be seen that each tube, referring to Fig. 9, has a cylindrical rear side that projects into .a space back of the panel 1, and has a cylindrical front side that projects from the face of the panel. It is obvious, however, that the tubes in cross section can be of the shape shown in Fig. 10 or Fig. 11, or of any other shape, but preferably each tube must have a light-collecting rear portion that can collect the light fromthe lamp or lamps 7 within the boX or closure, 7

and must have a light-projecting front portion projecting-from the face of the panel."

This produces a very brilliant efiect and very closely simulates a neon gas sign or ornamentaldevice, but at much less cost or expense, not only in the manufacturing of the sign or ornamental device, but also in the operation thereof.

In Figs. 4 and are connected together by rubber tubes 8, behind the front panel, so that the liquid can be forced in at one end of the signs and in this manner caused to fill all of the letters.

In Figs. 6 and 7, the construction is similar tothat shown in Fig. 4, but this 33. the connections Qbetween the letters areglass and are integral with the tubes forming the letters, these connections 9- beingbehind the anel.

In Fig. 8, the construction is similar to that Shown in. Figs. 6 and 7, but in this. case the single long glass tube is bent into shape to. form script or hand-writing, which latter is commonly used for the said neon, or neon gaswl. Similar eleetric-signs,.th sclosely simulating the letter.

In Fig 1.2, the construction issimilar to that illustrated in Fig.1,but in, this case the lamp .0 s hung abo and s, ight is re:

. flected through the; glass tubing 11 by thereflectcr; .2. ack of the panel, of the Sign In each case, therefore, it will be seen that glass, tubing is provided, bent into shape. to form, the letters, or figures, or other things, whatever may be 'desirechdepending uponthe use to be made of the illuminated; sign or. other, device. Liquid is. provided in the tub ing, and means are provided to form a background for the tubing, in combination with means. behind the tubing and background to. illuminate the tubing, so. that the latter willbe conspicuously and attractively visible at all timesQbut especially at night, or in a dark place Of course,, the tubing with the liquiditherein can be of a color or shade to contrast effectively with the background, even in the d,aytime, or in some lighted place. The refraction of the light rays passing through the tubing and liquid, regardless of; the cross sectional shape of. the tubing, as. explained, is such that the sign or other device, is. readable from almost any angle n. ont, substan i ly l ke the ordinary neon: gaselectric sign, so that, in order to read, the sig nit is not necessary, to stand directly in frontthereof. The rear projecting sides off the tubes collect thelight rays from all directions, and'the outer or front projecting sidesof, the tubes, or tubing, project the light raysnot only straight ahead, but also sidewise' in substantially all directions, so that the luniinosityof thetubesis substantially' the same from whatever angle they are viewed. In other words, thevlight: rays are; collected. from practically all. directions, behindethe panel, and then; dispersed, in practically; allv directions in front of thepanel.

' By glasstubing is meant tubing made of glass :OD-flDyjQhhQI; transparent or translucent materiahwhich'maybe used a isfac i y for this purpose. The liquid, of course, can be 5, the tubesforming letters water or anything else, but if the sign or ornamental device is to be used out-doors, where freezing temperatures occur, then the liquid must be something that would not freeze, very obviously, in order to prevent bursting or breakage of the tubes. Liquids of this kind, which will not freeze, are well known and do not need to be described here.

Also, as shown and described, by; tubing is meant hollow glass or; other material which is In Figs. 13 and 14, the lass. tubing 13' is formed with a flange 14,,wliich latter can be used in various ways, as for fastening the tubingin place on or in the panel or other support. This flange can be of any suitable width, and it is, obvious that the flange can be of such, size and shape that it will constitute the panel, so that a se arat'e panel will not be necessary. Such a auge can be painted or otherwise treated, to. make it if desired.

In F'gs. 15 and 1.6, the glass tubing 15 has its rear side silvered' at 16, or otherwise treated, thereby providing the tubing with l a rear reflecting surface which will reflect the light out of it. YVith this arrangement, the electric lamp 1'? can be suitably placed above and infront of the sign or ornamental device, so that its light willbe reflected downward upon the tubing, thus illuminating the tubing andthe colored: liquid tl'ierein', with the result that the raysof light will bere flected outwardly by the rear mirrorsurface of the tubing.

In Figs. 1.? and 18, the Sign is formed by front and rear plates or sheets of; glass 18 and 19, sealed at their edges, and formed with outward bulges 20 and 21 on their front and, rear surfaces, these bulges being shaped to form letters, or figures, or anything else. The entirespace between-the-"two plates or sheets of glass can be: filled with a colored liquid, and with the flat spaces between the letters, or figures, covereda withv paint or otherwise made opaque, the letters, or figures, or other thin s, will stand out against a dark backgroun 'sothat theeflect Will be substantially the same as; that produced' by the tubing previously described. The bulges QOand 21, of whatevershape-or configuration, will simulate glass tubing, lzfmd will produce substantially the-same ef ect.

Even in Figs. 15 and 16,. the rear side of the tubing isin the nature o'ffia light-collecting side,as it collects thelightxrays, and these rays are then refracted and dispersed indifferentdirectionsby thefront side-ofthe tube.

Thus with the-construction shown and1described, which is illustrative of different forms of the invention, for example, as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the panel 1 is quite thin and in this way the tubing 5 projects front and rear from said panel, in such a manner that the rear side of the tubing serves to collect light rays over a wide range of substantially one hundred and over degrees, approximately one hundred eighty degrees, from different directions behind the panel, and the same is substantially true of the dispersion of the light rays by the front portions of the tubing in front of the panel. In this way, the tubing is visible and readable at different angles to the panel, so that a person standing at either side of the sign can read the lettering or other characters and does not have to view the sign at substantially right angles thereto, but to the contrary can view the sign from angles close to the panel. This visibility and readability of the sign or other device, at different angles over a wide range in front of the panel in a sign having glass tubing filled with translucent or transparent liquid, is true of each of the different forms of the invention shown and described, whereby the invention quite effectively simulates a neon gas tube electric sign.

It will be seen that in each case, or in each form of the invention, as illustrated, for eX- ample, in Figs. 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16 and 18, the arrangement is such that practically the entire diameter of the tubing is visible on the front of the panel, or on the front of the sign or other apparatus. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the panel 1 and the tubing 4 are of such relative sizes or thicknesses that the panel does not cut off any of the-diameter of the tubing, practically, thereby substantially leaving the full diameter of the tubing exposed on the front of the panel. In this way, the criss-cross refractions and reflections are of such character as to fully illuminate and sharply outline the full diameter or size of the tube of the letters or figures or other things, so that from the front of the sign or other device practically or substantially the full width or diameter of the tubing is visible. Moreover, with the line back of the panel, as shown in Fig. 1, for example, the exposure of the full diameter of the tubing enables the criss-cross refractions and reflections to destroy the image of the light, whereby the letters or figures or other things have an even and uniform illumination.

Thus, illuminated characters are provided by the invention, and by characters is meant letters, figures, numerals, or any other things to which it is desired to draw attention by the attractive illumination thereof.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An illuminated sign or ornamental device comprising glass tubing shaped to form characters, a light-transmitting liquid in said tubing, a panel into which the tubing is set, the panel being of such thickness that the tubing projects at front and rear thereof, ex-

posing substantially the full diameter of the tubing at both sides of said panel, together with lighting means behind the panel to illuminate the tubing, so that the rear projecting side of the tubing serves to collect light rays over a wide range of substantially one hundred and over degrees from different directions behind the panel, while the front projecting side of the tubing serves to disperse the refracted light rays over a wide range of substantially one hundred and over degrees in different directions in front of the panel, so that criss-cross refractions and reflections destroy the image of the light and serve to fully illuminate and sharply outline substantially the full diameter of the tubing at the front of the panel, whereby the said tubing is visible and readable at different angles to the panel.

2. A structure as'specified in claim 1, said tubing being of clear white glass, and said liquid being colored.

3. Instrumentalities for simulating a neon gas or similar electric sign or ornamental device, comprising'glass shaped to form characters, with means forming a contrasting background for said characters, a liquid in said characters to provide the desired color or shade therefor, and means for illuminating said characters, said glass having front portions to disperse the light rays over a wide range of substantially one hundred and over degrees in different directions, so that crisscross refractions and reflections of the light serve to fully illuminate and sharply outline substantially the full contour of said characters and whereby the said sign or device is luminous and readable or visible from difierent angles.

HARVEY L. COLE. 

